Do you have a graduate degree not in business or law?

[Anonymous]

MS in survey research. No brainer it was worth it, particularly since I didn't pay for it. I took advantage of my old company's great tuition assistance benefits. Would not have gotten my GS14 job without it.

FWIW, there's a bunch of PhDs in my agency with the same job as me. A few of them are a bit put out that those of us with Masters have them same job as them and that their doctorates don't seem to be giving them an extra leg up - at least in our situation.

[Anonymous]

Currently getting my masters in Ed for Literacy...hoping there are reading specialist jobs out there in fcps at the end of this. I have been a sahm for 8 years so needed this to stay current.

[Anonymous]

Procurement and Contracts Management and I believe it has. Shows that I am committed to my actual career as a Contracts Specialist.

[Anonymous]

Yes, in my field it's hard to get hired, let alone promoted, without a masters degree. I think I'd be stuck at the equivalent of research assistant - just doing lit reviews and drafting grant applications - without a masters.

[Anonymous]

Master's in Journalism. I learned a lot and made some helpful connections, but it was only worth it because I got a scholarship and my costs were minimal. If I had had to pay full freight or take out loans, forget it -- especially with the dismal state of the job market today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a PhD in economics. In this town, it buys you access to a lot of secure jobs, but getting the degree takes so long that it isn't a clear no-brainer to get one.

How marketable is a master's in economics? I'd like to get into policy work and this seems like a more useful degree than an MPP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:M. Ed. Yes, as it directly increased my salary as a public school teacher and the classes were necessary to get the teaching endorsement I wanted.

+1

Some of the classes were based on common sense and not always interesting, but it have me a job and a foundation to build upon. Besides, you'd be surprised how many people actually need to be taught common sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:M. Ed. Yes, as it directly increased my salary as a public school teacher and the classes were necessary to get the teaching endorsement I wanted.

+1

Some of the classes were based on common sense and not always interesting, but it gave me a job and a foundation to build upon. Besides, you'd be surprised how many people actually need to be taught common sense.

[Anonymous]

I'm in health policy and got an MS 10 years ago. Yes, it helped tremendously...every job I've been interested in since graduating has stated, master's required or preferred.

[Anonymous]

Master of Library Science. Yes, it was required for job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MS in Environmental Engineering. Extremely beneficial. Really taught me everything about what I do now and how to think.

What is your undergrad degree in?

[Anonymous]

Computer Science. Yes, but mostly because the grad program is much more highly regarded than my undergraduate institution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, in my field it's hard to get hired, let alone promoted, without a masters degree. I think I'd be stuck at the equivalent of research assistant - just doing lit reviews and drafting grant applications - without a masters.

Public health?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Computer Science. Yes, but mostly because the grad program is much more highly regarded than my undergraduate institution.

I should say that the degree has been useful, but I had an RA and stipend, so didn't pay for anything.

[Anonymous]

Masters 1- library science. Opened up job opportunities. Masters 2- public policy, same.

Both were a means to an end- I didn't find the coursework for either particularly valuable and likely would not have pursued/finished them if I had to pay for them (fellowship for #1 and free tuition for #2 b/c I was a university employee).